Neon tube sign mounting



March 12, 1935. H. NUNEZ 1,993,943

NEON TUBE SIGN MOUNTING Filed Jan. 12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor H. Nunez f1 llorney March 12, 1935. H. NUVNEZ 1,993,943

NEON TUBE SIGN MOUNTING Filed Jan. 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T Inventor March 12, 1935. H. NUNEZ NEON TUBE SIGN MOUNTING Filed Jan. 12, 1954 5 Sheefcs-Sheet 3 lnvenior flllorney Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 12, 1934, Serial No. 706,434 In Mexico January 16, 1933 1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in signs, and more particularly to a novel type of neon sign mounting.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a sign wherein tubes of neon or other rare gas content are mounted conveniently by sections to form characters of any predetermined conformation.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of a letter formed by the novel tube section arrangement.

Figure 2 represents an edge elevational view of the character shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a rear elevational view of the character board shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 4 represents an elevational view of one of the tube sections.

Figure 5 represents a side elevational view of one of the tube sections, showing a slightly modified form for holding the electrode conductors..

Figure 6 represents an end elevational view 1 looking from a position on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 represents a diagrammatic view disclosing how the neon tube sections are electrically connected.

Figure 8 represents an elevational view of the letter R formed from common tube sections.

Figure9 represents the letter S formed from a pair of the common tube sections.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters designate like parts, it can be seen in Figure 1 that numerals 55 represent supporting bars which are arranged in parallel to support the character boards 6, the character board in Figure 1 representing the capital letter I-I".

Arranged on the-front side of the board 6 is a suitable number of spring clips 7. On the back of the board is a suitable number of clips 8 for engagement with the rods 55 whereby the character boards 6 are supported. A binding post 9 is provided on the board for each clip 7, the latter of course serving to support the neon tubes which engage the clips 7 at their contact ends.

Curved tube sections of the shape shown in Figures 8 and 9 or straight sections, shown in Figures 4, 5 and 8, may be employed for forming all of the letters of the alphabet. Each of the tube sections consists of the usual glass tubular container 10 with its ends bent inwardly, as at 11. In these inturned end portions are mounted the electrodes, from which extend the conductors 12. In order to secure these conductors definitely and prevent any pull thereon, the form of the sections shown in Figure 4 has a clamp band 13 disposed around the conductor at the inturned end portion of the tube. In Figure 5, the conductor 12 is retained by wrapping wire 14 or some other suitable ductile material around the conductor.

The tube sections are connected together by conductor jumpers 15 at the back of the sign board 6 in the manner substantially shown in Figure 3.

Figure '1 represents the straight sections. by small letters a and the curved sections by small letters b, while the curved sections 0 are common to all of the various alphabetical characters that can be formed.

It will be observed in Figure 2 that the inturned :end portions of the tube sections are engaged into the clip 7, the clip "I being pre-arranged on the particular character board 6 and obviously, by having the tube sections so supported on the board, the same can be readily removed for the purpose of replacement or repair.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

In combination, a character formed background board, a plurality of neon tube sections for disposition on the background board to illuminate the same, each of the said sections being provided with inturned end portions, a conductor band at each of the inturned end portions connected with the usual electrode of the tube section, and terminal clips on the said background board of spring material for engagement with the said bands.

HIGINIO NUNEZ.

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